Former Hollyoaks star Ricky Whittle lands role in highly-anticipated US TV series American Gods

FORMER HOLLYOAKS star Ricky Whittle has landed a role in one of the most highly-anticipated US TV shows, an adaptation of Author Neil Gaiman’s, American Gods.

The 34-year-old, will play Shadow Moon, the protagonist of Gaiman’s 2001 novel which posits a war between the gods of the ancient pantheons and the newer deities representing modern life.

According to Neil, Ricky’s audition was “remarkable” and said he was “ delighted Ricky will get to embody Shadow”.

“Blown away by all your support & love,thank you.Let me educate you in the genius of @neilhimself Go read his incredible book #AmericanGods,” Ricky wrote on Twitter after the news was announced.

In Gaiman’s novel, Shadow is an ex-con who becomes bodyguard and traveling partner to Mr Wednesday, a conman but in reality one of the older gods, on a cross-country mission to gather his forces in preparation to battle the new deities.

Showrunners Bryan Fuller and Michael Green said in a statement: “We searched every continent and country and all the islands in between for our Shadow Moon, and we are lucky to have found Ricky. Fans of the novel will find he has every bit of the heart of the character they fell in love with.”

Olham-born Ricky, the son of a former RAF serviceman, made his name in long-running Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks as well as British TV staple Holby City. He also came second in Strictly Come Dancing in 2009.